Machine for making drums, kegs, and the like



Feb. 18, 1936. R. A; MULLER zmwm MACHINE FOR MAKING DRUMS, KEGS AND THE LIKE Filed March 6, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l 2; l f iJ A L1 fig O YT kg $5 Q0 "1 I /l/ENTOR W Feb. 18, 1936. R. A. MULLER fi fi I MACHINE FOR MAKING DRUMS, KEGS AND THE LIKE Filed March 6, 195 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q a l i -l I Haw n m Qfi m Feb. R8, 193%. R. A. MULLER MACHINE FOR MAKING DRUMS, KEGS AND THE LIKE Filed March 6, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 N VEN TOR W 'A'T TORNE Y,

Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR MAKING DRIMS, KEGS, AND THE LIKE Application March 6, 1934, Serial No. 714,279

8 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of barrels, drums, kegs, and other containers, and is more especially concerned with the manufacture of containers of this type from veneer, plywood, and similar materials. It aims to devise a machine with the aid of which such containers can be manufactured rapidly, with a high degree of accuracy, and with a relatively low labor cost.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is an end view of a machine or apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal, sectional View through the mandrel of the machine;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the mandrel and the forming members associated therewith;

Fig. 5 is a transverse, sectional view through a portion of a plywood drum which may be made in this machine;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal view through the end portion of such a drum; and

Fig.7 is a perspective view of a completed drum.

The machine shown in the drawings comprises a cylindrical mandrel 2, one end of which is part- 1y closed by a head 3. Secured rigidly to this head is a shaft 4, supported in bearings 5--5,

Fig. 2, carried by a bracket 6 which is secured rigidly to the machine frame or stand I. Since the operator usually stands at the left-hand end of the machine as it is shown in Fig. 2, this end may be referred to as the front and. the opposite end as the rear. The arrangement just described therefore supports the drum entirely from its rearward end, leaving the front end free, and since the shaft 4 is coaxial with the mandrel 2, it permits rotation of the mandrel about its own axis by hand, or in any other desired manner.

Preferably the mandrel is split longitudinally, as indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, so that it consists of two sections, the head 3 being integral with one of them, and these sections are pivoted or hinged together at 8, Figs. 1 and 4, so that they may be swung about this hinge connection to expand or contract the mandrel. A strong spring l0 connects the two sections at the portions thereof opposite to the hinge 8 and serves to hold the mandrel normally contracted. In order to expand it, a plunger I2 is mounted to slide longitudinally in the portion of the mandrel diametrically opposite to the hinge, this plunger having a straight edge to engage lugs l3l3 integral with one of the sections, and an opposite curved edge to engage similar lugs I l-I4 on the. other section. It will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 3 that if this plunger is moved forward, the rises a-a on it will engage the lugs l4--I4 and force the adjacent edges of the two sections of the mandrel apart. Also, that when this movement has proceeded far enough to bring the flats of the rises in contact with the lugs l4-I4 it will then look the mandrel in its expanded condition.

For the purpose of operating the plunger l2, its rearward end is bolted to a collar l5, Fig. 2, slidable on the shaft 4. One arm of a bell crank lever i6 is forked to straddle a portion of this 001- lar and runs in a peripheral groove l1 formed in it, while the opposite end of said lever is connected to the floating link I8 of a toggle which includes another link l9 pivoted on the frame of the machine. A third link 20 connects the central pivot of the toggle with one end of a treadle lever 2 l. Normally the toggle is held collapsed by means of a strong spring 22, this spring operating through the connections with the plunger 12 to hold the plunger in its rearward position, as illustrated in Fig. 3. At this time the mandrel is contracted. When the Operator steps on the treadle 2|, he straightens the toggle, thus forcing the plunger I 2 forwardly, and

he may look the plungerin this position by swinging the forward end of the treadle lever into the notch 23 of a stationary locking plate 24, Fig. 1. At this time the mandrel is held in its expanded condition.

Cooperating with the mandrel 2 are two forming members 25 and 26, mounted at opposite sides of the mandrel, and having the same internal curvature as that of the exterior of the mandrel. They are hinge-d together immediately below the mandrel on the stationary hinge pin 21 so that they can both swing toward and from the mandrel. The operating mechanism for the member 25 comprises two toggle links 28 and 30, the former pivoted to the part 25 and the latter to a stationary part of the frame, While their middle or common pivot is connected by a rod 3| to a treadle lever 32, fulcrumed on the machine frame at 33. When the forward end of this lever is depressed, it straightens the toggle and moves the forming member 25 into its inward position of a toggle.

where it lies substantially in contact with the mandrel, as illustrated in Fig. 4; and by moving fitted, bends it into approximately a U-shape,

and inserts it between the mandrel and the forming members in the general manner indicated at P, Fig. 1. At this time, or just prior to placing the plywood sheet in the machine, he depresses the treadle 2! to expand the mandrel. Usually he places a head or bottom 4| against the front 'end of the mandrel and inside the plywood and registers the forward edge of the plywood sheet with the outer surface of the head or bottom. He then steps on the treadle 32', thus forcing the portion of the plywood sheet between it and the mandrel firmly against the mandrel and making it conform to the cylindrical contour of this memher, at the same time taking care that the lefthand edge of the sheet comes at about the right position on the mandrel. He locks the member 26 in this position. Next, he swings the other forming member 25 toward the mandrel by stepping on the treadle 32 and locking it down. This forces the right-hand margin of the plywood sheet over the opposite margin. In order to make these overlapped margins lie down closely against the mandrel, a hold-down device is provided comprising a bar 31 hinged to the upper margin of the forming member 25 by means of bolts 40, these bolts projecting loosely through holes in the bar 31 so that a limited swinging 'movement of the bar relatively to the member 25 is permitted. Secured rigidly to the bar 3'1, and projecting laterally therefrom, are several fingers 38 adapted to bear on the overlapped portions of the plywood sheet. The operating mechanism for this hold-down includes an arm 4!, secured rigidly to the bar 31, and a hand lever 42 pivoted to it at 43, this lever forming one link The other link is shown in Fig. 2 at 44. After the forming member 25 has been locked in its inward position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the operator forces the hand lever 42 rearwardly until the central portion of the toggle strikes the stop 45. This straightens the toggle, rocks the bar 31 on the member 25, and causes the fingers 38 to force the overlapped margins of the plywood down firmly against the surface of the mandrel where it is held by the locking of the toggle. It should be observed that the fingers 38 form an interrupted extension of the member 25. Through the spaces between these fingers nails, staples, or other fasteners 46, Figs. 5, 6 and '7, are next driven to secure the overlapped margins of the plywood sheets permanently together. This produces a plywood cylinder 41, which forms the main body of the drum or other container being manufactured.

The treadles 32 and 32' are now unlocked and the forming members 25 and 26 are allowed to swing away from the mandrel. Next a bottom of any suitable form, such, for example, as that shown at 48 in Figs. 6 and '7, is placed against the forward end of the mandrel and inside the projecting end of the plywood cylinder 41, unless this has already been done at a preceding point in the process. This bottom is fastened to the cylinder in any convenient manner. In the particular arrangement shown a metal hoop 49 is placed over the end of the cylinder or drum, this hoop being provided with a flange 50 which overlies the outer margin of the bottom 48. A series of nails 5| are driven radially through the hoop and the edge of the cylinder 41 into the edge of the head, as shown in Figs. 6 and "I, thus securing the head firmly in position.

This completes the manufacturing operations performed in this machine. The operator next trips the treadle2 I, thus allowing the mandrel tocontract, whereupon the drum may be slipped off the mandrel and the operations above described may then be repeated to make a new drum. Usually the drums are shipped to the ultimate consumer in this condition. After a drum has been filled, a head like the bottom 48 is placed in the upper open end and is secured in this position by a hoop 49 in the same manner that the bottom has been fastened.

It should be noted that the space between the upper edges of the forming members 25 and 26 permits the driving of the fasteners and the clinching of them against the surface of the mandrel, while the fingers 38 keep the lap under control. Also, in driving the nails 5|, the fact that the mandrel is rotatable about its own axis is of advantage in enabling the operator to rotate the drum as he works around its periphery, and the connections between the mechanism for expandhighly useful in the manufacture of drums made from various kinds of sheet materials, whether the fastenings are driven manually or by machine. Usually it is preferable to so shape the sections of the mandrel that it has substantially a true cylindrical form when in its expanded condition, the degree of contraction required for the purpose of removing the plywood cylinder formed on it being very slight. For example, the lower edges of the sections may move toward a distance of only perhaps one-eighth or onequarter of an inch in a mandrel designed to make kegs or drums of the ordinary sizes.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be evident that this embodiment is susceptible of change and modification without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

stantial distance at the top of the mandrel when said members are at the inward limit of their movement, and an interrupted extension projecting from the upper edge of one of said members toward the other and overlapping a considerable part of the space separating said upper edges.

2. In an apparatus for making drums and similar articles, the combination of a cylindrical mandrel, means at one end of said mandrel for supporting it for rotation about its own axis but leaving the opposite end of the mandrel free, two forming members at opposite sides of said mandrel, said mandrel being split longitudinally and comprising two sections hinged together for lateral expansion and contraction, a plunger cooperating with the portions of said sections opposite to their hinged connection for relatively moving them to change the diameter of the mandrel, and operating means for said plunger, said plunger being rotatable about the axis of said mandrel relatively to said operating means.

3. An apparatus according to preceding claim 2 including two forming members at opposite sides of said mandrel mounted for movement toward and from it and cooperating with the mandrel to bend a sheet of plywood, or the like, closely around said mandrel, and means operable to move said members inwardly into cooperative relationship to said mandrel and to lock them in their inward positions.

4. In an apparatus for making drums and similar articles, the combination of a mandrel, means for supporting said mandrel, two forming members mounted at opposite sides of said mandrel for movement toward and from it and cooperating with the mandrel to bend a sheet of plywood, or the like, closely around said mandrel, means operable to move said members inwardly into cooperative relationship to said mandrel, the edges of said forming members being spaced apart to permit the margins of a plywood sheet to be overlapped, one on the other, and additional means in the machine operable to force the overlap against the mandrel and to hold it in that position While the overlapped margins are secured together.

5. In an apparatus for making drums and similar articles, the combination of a mandrel, means for supporting said mandrel, two forming members mounted at opposite sides of said mandrel for movement toward and from it and cooperating with the mandrel to bend a sheet of plywood,

or the like, closely around said mandrel, means operable to move said members inwardly into-coperative relationship to said mandrel, the edges of said forming members being spaced apart to permit the margins of a plywood sheet to be overlapped, one on the other, and a hold-down apparatus for operating on the overlap so made, comprising parts carried by one of said members and. movable relatively thereto in the space between the edges of said members.

6. In an apparatus for making drums and similar articles, the combination of a mandrel, means for supporting said mandrel, two forming members mounted at opposite sides of said mandrel for movement toward and from it and cooperating with the mandrel to bend a sheet of plywood, or the like, closely around said mandrel, means operable to move said members inwardly into cooperative relationship to said mandrel, the edges of said forming members being spaced apart to permit the margins of a plywood sheet to be overlapped, one on the other, and a hold-down device for operating on the overlap so made, said device being mounted on one of said members to move toward and from the part of the mandrel underlying the space between said edges of the forming members, and operating means for said hold-down.

7. An apparatus according to preceding claim 6 in which said hold-down is pivoted to one of said members to swing relatively thereto and a toggle mechanism is provided to force it downwardly against the overlapped margins of the plywood.

8. In an apparatus for making drums and similar articles, the combination of a cylindrical mandrel, means at one end of said mandrel for supporting it for rotation about its own axis but leaving the opposite end of the mandrel free, said mandrel being split longitudinally and comprising two sections hinged together for lateral expansion and contraction, a plunger slidable in said mandrel and cooperating with portions of said sections: opposite to their hinged connection for moving said sections relatively to each other about said connection, and forming members at opposite sides of said mandrel and movable toward and from it for cooperating with the mandrel to bend a sheet of plywood, or the like, closely around the mandrel and against the peripheral surface thereof.

ROBERT A. MULLER. 

